The apartment community of VY/Reston Heights continues to offer tours of its studio, one, two and three bedroom luxury-living apartments — including hard-to-find two-level lofts — and for now the tours are done virtually, in the online company of a leasing agent.
The apartment homes in the five-level building — the ground floor is an exciting mix of retail, services and restaurants — boast 8-feet-8 high ceilings; oversized windows with superb views; kitchens made from quartz, wood and stainless steel; elegant plank flooring; and contemporary barn doors for architectural interest.
The building includes an chic welcoming lobby and a common area social lounge, kitted out with shuffleboard, foosball, a catering kitchen and an oversized flat screen TV. The Sky Lounge includes an outdoor terrace for relaxing and entertaining, boasting views of the Blue Ridge mountains in the near distance. In addition to a resort-style swimming pool, the Flex fitness center offers an opportunity to keep fit with cardio equipment, free-weights and a stretching zone.
The pet-friendly building includes an on-site dog park and an indoor pet spa.
The community is part of the larger historic Reston neighborhood, in close proximity to Reston Town Center’s movie theaters, shops, restaurants and within walking distance to the soon-to-open Wegmans across the street, as well as the nearby Reston Town Center Metro Silver Line station. (Golfers will enjoy the access to Reston National Golf Course, just a five-iron from the front door.)
VY/Reston Heights is at 11830 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. For a limited time there is a 30-day move-in satisfaction guarantee; for those who feel like leasing now, this page is ready to welcome you. Details are at VY / Reston Heights or by calling 833-331-6644.
By Wayne M. Zell, Esq., of Zell Law, PLLC, an estate and business planning law firm located in Northern Virginia that focuses on helping clients realize their dreams of wealth and freedom.
Small business owners are adapting quickly to the world’s new norms. Whether it’s shifting business to online commerce or conducting meetings through Zoom, Skype or GoToMeeting, business owners, as always, have to think and move quickly to keep their business alive.
Also, more entrepreneurs are working from home offices instead of their brick-and-mortar headquarters. That may mean close contact with family members during the workday or squeezing into tight spaces at home while video conferencing. If this is your situation, keep in mind that you may be able to take advantage of work-from-home tax deductions.
What qualifies for a deduction?
Along with no commute and flexibility, tax deductions are another benefit of working from home. As a small business owner, you have to meet two basic requirements to qualify for the home office tax deduction:
- Regular and exclusive use — The space you use for your office must only be used for conducting business.
- Principal place of business — The home office has to be your primary place for regular administrative activities or responsibilities, such as billing customers, setting up appointments and keeping books and records for your company.
Who qualifies for the home office deduction
You can claim the deduction whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, and you can use the deduction for any type of home where you reside: a single-family home, an apartment, a condo or a houseboat. You can’t use it for a hotel or other temporary lodging.
The home office deduction rules also apply to freestanding structures. You can use a studio, garage or barn space as your home office as long as the structure meets the “exclusive and regular use” requirements.
Here are the conditions you’ll need to meet:
- More on “regular and exclusive” use: The space you’re using for business must be used exclusively for conducting business. For example, using a spare bedroom as both your office and a playroom for your children likely makes you ineligible.
There are two exceptions. If you provide day care services for children, elderly (65 or older) or handicapped individuals in that part of the house, you can probably still claim business deductions, as long as you have a license, certification or approval as a day care center under state law, according to the IRS. The other exception is if you use the office for storage of inventory or product samples you sell in your business.
- More on the “principal place of business” requirement: Although your home office doesn’t have to be the only place you meet your clients or customers, it must be your principal place of business. That means you use the space exclusively and regularly for administrative or management activities, such as billing customers, setting up appointments and keeping books and records, according to the IRS.
Meet Prissy, an adult Domestic Short Hair available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:
Prissy is a very sweet, lovable, lap cat.
She just turned 8 years old and was diagnosed with moderate irritable bowel disease. She takes one tablet of prednisolone, which very inexpensive, in her wet food daily. She loves affection and is looking for a calm, quiet home with someone who is willing to adopt or permanently foster her for our rescue.
She loves to eat, cuddle, nap and uses the box perfectly. Her favorite playtime is scratching and lounging on her cardboard scratcher. Let us know if you are interested in this precious girl or have any questions about her.
Are you and Prissy a match?
Meet Rocko, an male American Straffordshire Terrier Mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about him:
Rocko is very sweet and affectionate with a great personality.
Full of love. Playful and a little goofy. Laid back but not shy. Loves to cuddle and takes naps with you. Loves lots of attention. Loves his chew toys and treats. Sleeps through the night.
A wonderful puppy that’s looking to become a member of the family.
Are you and Rocko a match?
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
Even with some lockdown restrictions easing in Northern Virginia, we know many homeowners are wondering if it’s safe to start a home remodel during this phase of COVID-19. As an essential business, we’ve been open throughout the pandemic and are proud of our team’s hard work to ensure we maintained exceptional standards on all of our job sites to keep our clients and our team healthy and safe but still deliver on-time, on-budget home remodels.
We also know that now is not the time to ease up on any protocols and safety standards. If you decide you are ready to move forward with your remodel, don’t be afraid to ask your chosen remodeling company or general contractor what they are doing to help ensure safety on your project. Here are some of the measures we have in place. This is not an exhaustive list, but it can be used as a starting point for a discussion with your home remodeler:
- A 3-stage HEPA filtration air purifier to reduce viruses, germs and dust particles in the air
- Handwashing and sanitization stations at the entrance to job sites
- Dust barriers with zippered doors that separate the construction site from the rest of the home
- A screened portable toilet so team members or tradespeople do not use your bathroom
- Organized and efficiently run job sites keep things clean
- Close partnership with trade partners to ensure job site standards are upheld
- Thermometer checks to ensure anyone with an elevated temperature is not allowed on the job site
Our featured home remodel this month is a transitional kitchen, dining room and pantry remodel in Vienna. Every remodel tells a story but this one is particularly meaningful to us. This project was mid-way through construction when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Despite the lockdown, we were able to safely complete the remodel on budget and ahead of schedule for our client who is a healthcare professional. Creating beautiful spaces for her to come home to was an honor.
Don’t just take our word for it! Listen to our client tell you about her experience in her own words.
About this remodel: Our clients have a beautiful home, but the walled-in kitchen and little-used separate formal dining room made the spaces feel cramped and closed-in. They were ready to completely change things up by removing the walls that created a physical separation of space on the main level and create a truly open concept!
The home also has a great backyard with a pool, but an open porch off the kitchen provided little usable functional space. We enclosed the porch and refinished it to create the perfect multi-purpose pantry. It now has tons of built-in bench storage for pool equipment, a second refrigerator, cabinetry storage, shelving and, most importantly, a cosy place for beds under the countertop for their beloved dogs!
Ready to take the first step on your remodeling journey? Get in touch!
The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University is offering prospective graduate students the opportunity to sample a free virtual lecture regarding one of the more pressing concerns of the day: the coronavirus pandemic and, more specifically, the future threats that might be inspired by it.
The sample lecture, titled Will COVID-19 Inspire Greater Interest in Bioweapons?, will be held July 22 at 12 p.m. EDT. It will be taught by professor Gregory Koblentz, director of the biodefense master’s, PhD, and graduate certificate programs at the Schar School.
“The sample lecture will discuss the history of bioterrorism and why different terrorist groups have tried to develop and use biological weapons,” said Koblentz. “Understanding the motivations for bioterrorism can help us predict the conditions under which bioterrorist groups emerge.”
The online lecture will be based on a bioterrorism risk assessment framework that Koblentz developed as part of an earlier research project on chemical, bioterrorism, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. In 2016, Koblentz briefed the UN Security Council on the impact of emerging technologies on the threat posed by the proliferation of CBRN weapons to non-state actors.
“This class sampler,” said Koblentz, “will provide a preview of one of the lectures I’ll be giving in BIOD 609: Biodefense Strategy in the fall. This will be the first chance for prospective students to hear my analysis of this threat.”
The session will reveal new insights about the pandemic and how diseases could be used for bioterrorism or biological warfare in the future. “There is a long-standing debate in the field about the threat posed by bioterrorism,” said Koblentz, “and there are a whole bunch of new questions being raised about how the COVID-19 pandemic might increase that threat. There are some disturbing indications that both far-right and jihadist terrorist groups are seeking to exploit the pandemic to advance their respective political agendas.”
Register to attend the sample lecture.
To stay updated on sample lecture opportunities or information about the Schar School’s graduate programs, please visit our admissions event page or fill out our request form.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
Employers have started to see the first lawsuits by employees and customers related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The numbers of these types of cases will only continue to increase, given the lack of a cohesive strategy by federal and state governments in dealing with the reopening of businesses and the potential for liability. Hopefully, Congress will deal with this problem quickly and compromise. As of June 12, 2020, according to a tracker of COVID-19 cases, approximately 2,700 COVID-19 lawsuits have been filed.
The First Lawsuits Have Started
The first COVID-19 related lawsuits seen thus far include a class action by McDonald’s workers and a wrongful death action filed by a Safeway employee’s family. Many other lawsuits have been filed, both small and large, and we are starting to see employers require employees to sign waivers in order to return to work, and other businesses and events requiring individuals to sign waivers before entering.
For instance, some businesses have required individuals to sign waivers of legal rights to enter gyms or salons or to attend other events. For example, at the President’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma attendees were required to waive their right to sue the campaign in the event they contracted COVID-19 at the President’s campaign rally.
Employers are Seeking Liability Protections
The question of whether a business is liable if their employees or customers catch COVID-19 has become a critical issue as many states reopen retail, foodservice and other businesses. Businesses contend that they are subject to numerous lawsuits without any liability protections and are seeking legal protections from Congress, or even individual states, as the pandemic subsides. On the other side, opponents of liability protections argue that limiting liability for businesses could cause them to ignore safety rules, endangering both employees and customers.
A Compromise is Very Likely
It is likely that a compromise will be found, through congressional action, or worst case, on a state-by-state basis. There will need to be a balance between the protection of employees and customers and in ensuring that businesses do not go bankrupt through needless and often frivolous litigation. It is likely that these liability protections may find themselves in pending congressional bills which provide additional financial relief to individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic. In the end, businesses and employers that act reasonably will likely be mostly safe from litigation.
Contact Us
If you are in need of legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Meet Pookie, a black Domestic Short Hair male available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:
This sweet, adorable boy will do best in a quiet home. He was found outdoors with an injured left eye that needed to be removed.
He is shy at first but once he gets comfortable, he loves stretching out for belly rubs and cuddling his head on your neck
Are you and Pookie a match?
Meet Reed, a male Retriever mix puppy available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Safe Haven Puppy Rescue have to say about him:
Reed is is a happy, friendly little fella who’s just nine weeks old a bit less than ten pounds. He might have some retriever blood and Microsoft AI says maybe some newfie too. He’s been a joy to have with us but he’ll soon be ready to go his forever family — we’re confident he will make his adopters a terrific companion.
This great little guy is a nice blend of friendly affection and normal puppy playfulness and will bring lots of love to any home. Precious pups like Reed go fast, so please copy and paste the link into your browser to fill out our online application. Please hurry so you don’t miss out as we expect good response.
Reed is up to date on all shots and dewormings and carries an adoption fee of $399 which includes his micro chip. This attractive, affectionate little fella is going to bring lots of joy to some lucky adopters, so don’t delay.
Are you and Reed a match?
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The Commonwealth of Virginia enacted a number of new employment laws this year, completely transforming employee rights as never before.
One of these new employment laws in Virginia involves providing Whistleblower rights for employees. In the past, employees had to rely on a very weak system of whistleblower protection that was developed through the courts and case law. Essentially, there was little protection for those terminated for blowing the whistle on an employer’s illegal conduct. That has now changed and this article discusses the new Virginia Whistleblower legislation.
Virginia’s New Whistleblower Law
Virginia’s new whistleblower law, enacted in House Bill 798, was sponsored by State Delegate Karrie Delaney, was signed into law on April 11, 2020, by Governor Ralph Northam and becomes effective on July 1, 2020.
The new law prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, threatening, discriminating against, or penalizing an employee or from taking other retaliatory action with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment.
How an Employee May Be Protected Under the Whistleblower Protection Law
An employee may be protected by Virginia’s new Whistleblower Protection Law if they:
(1) Report in good faith (or cause another employee to report in good faith) a violation of state law, federal law, or regulation to a supervisor, law enforcement or to any governmental body (e.g., Fairfax/Arlington County, City of Alexandria, federal government authorities).
(2) Are asked by law enforcement or a governmental body to participate in an investigation, hearing or inquiry.
(3) Refuse to commit a criminal act for the employer that would expose the employee to potential criminal liability.
(4) Refuse an employer’s order to perform an act that would violate any federal or state law or regulation (and explain to their employer that their refusal is based on potentially violating the law).
(5) Testify before law enforcement or a governmental body if it is connected to an investigation of an employer’s unlawful conduct.
Employee Remedies
If an employee is subject to whistleblower retaliation, then she/he may file a lawsuit within a year of the retaliation. Courts in Virginia may issue an injunction against the employer’s retaliation, reinstate a wrongfully terminated employee, provide appropriate backpay, attorneys fees and compensation and costs.
The law is new and more complex than provided in this article so it is important to obtain legal advice if a suspected case of retaliation develops.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Meet Valkyrie, a Tiger Striped Domestic Short Hair available for adoption locally.
Here is what her friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about her:
Valkyrie aka Val is a regal beauty. She’s a little timid, will need some time to warm up but when she does your lap will be her new friend!
She lives with several other fosters and doesn’t mind other cats but would prefer a quiet home to herself. She loves to play laser light but the other kitties always take over. She feels it’s her time to shine all by herself.
Her favorite thing is to sip from the bathroom faucet as you get ready in the morning. Who wouldn’t want that all to themselves.
Val is about 3-4 years old.
Are you and Valkyrie a match?
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
Ever feel unsettled in your home but not quite sure why? It has a lot to do with energy.
Often we focus our attention on pretty countertops and new flooring, but if we don’t clear the stagnant energy from our homes, we’re sometimes left feeling drained and depleted without really knowing why.
With most of us spending more time in our homes than we ever imagined, this is the perfect opportunity to find out how to shift that energy. Join us on Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m. EST as Mina Fies, CEO of Synergy Design & Construction, shares best practices on how to shift your home’s energy both before and after a remodel. Mina is a Zen Remodeler, Certified Practitioner of Interior Alignment™(Instinctive Feng Shui) and a Certified Green Professional (CGP).
The webinar is FREE. Claim your spot now!
If you can’t make the webinar but you’re ready to remodel, we can help! We’re open and employing our innovative methods that allow us to continue to deliver our same caring customer service and beautiful home remodels, while keeping our team and client safety and well being as our top priority.
See more of our projects and hear from clients who have renovated happy during the pandemic with Synergy Design & Construction here!
Meet Emmitt, a young Labrador Retriever mix available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Fancy Cats Rescue Team have to say about him:
Emmitt is an adorable playful puppy who also has the most pleasant temperament.
Emmitt is an approximately 6 months old mixed breed who is completely house trained, crate trained and ready for his forever family.
Get ready to fall in love with this adorable face upon first sight!
Are you and Emmitt a match?
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
The pending decisions by the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Arlington County Public Schools (APS) about in-person instruction in the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been an important issue for many individuals in Northern Virginia.
A number of families recently filed a complaint against FCPS on May 8, 2020, alleging a systemic lack of instruction given to Fairfax students with disabilities or special education needs. The complaint appears to be one of the first complaints on behalf of special needs students affected by online instruction and the pandemic. A federal class action was recently filed in court alleging similar issues against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a recent lawsuit.
The Recent FCPS Issues and Complaint
Given recent news, Governor Ralph Northam is re-opening public schools in the fall, leaving significant discretion to counties. Individual counties will have significant flexibility in re-opening their schools.
Those families with special education needs and Individual Education Plans (commonly known as IEPs) are especially concerned. These students are substantially more affected than other students due to the lack of in-person instruction in schools. As a result, Fairfax County families filed a complaint against FCPS with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), alleging a failure to provide equal learning opportunities to students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the examples cited in the May 8, 2020 complaint included requiring special education students to follow online classes for only portions of the day. Many students, given their disabilities, were unable to do so. Other students with disabilities were allegedly told that their specialized instruction would only begin when in-person school re-opens.
Federal Law Requires Protection of Those with Disabilities
There are several laws that protect students with disabilities. Principal among these is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C.§ 1400. Pursuant to federal law, children with learning disabilities must receive specialized instruction in order to provide them with a level playing field with those that do not suffer from such disabilities.
IDEA is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. IDEA governs how states and public government agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to the almost seven million eligible children with disabilities.
However, according to the complaint the problem has been that FCPS was allegedly “pausing” such education until schools physically re-opened. As of this writing, there were at least three federal court cases filed in different jurisdictions nationally against other school systems regarding the lack of specialized instruction for special education students under IDEA. Further delays or curtailing of in-person special education may lead to additional lawsuits.
Difficulties Faced by Those with Learning Disabilities and Online Education
Families in the complaint have alleged that FCPS left children behind that need special education instruction behind due to the lack of in-person education. Many of the students involved in the complaint against FCPS have autism and dyslexia. While it is undoubtedly difficult for FCPS to have maneuvered these issues in March or April, there is hope that FCPS will strive to provide in-person education for healthy students, with proper protections, for those with special educational needs.
According to one of the parents of a child in the complaint, FCPS requested a delay in responding to parents’ complaint until June 11, 2020, which was granted. However, FCPS may have submitted their response past the business hours deadline on June 11, 2020. It is unknown whether VDOE will accept an after-hours response as of this writing.
Conclusion
Findings in the complaint by VDOE are due on July 7, 2020, unless further delays occur. Hopefully, FCPS, APS and other school systems will address the needs of affected special needs students. If interested in the complaint process or for more information, parents can contact VDOE here.
Meet Hudson, a Domestic Short Hair male available for adoption locally.
Here is what his friends at Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:
Hudson is a big, sweet, gentle boy looking for someone to give him lots of affection and belly rubs. He loves being petted and brushed. And has a calm, easy going temperament.
Hudson tested positive for FIV. Cats with FIV can live long healthy lives indoors. They can be great as an only cat or as a companion to another FIV positive cat.
We are currently conducting virtual visits and adopting out in the northern Virginia area only.
Are you and Hudson a match?
